Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 183: Facing It With Her

"Please, just trust me. As long as we work together, we’ll definitely get through this."

Hearing this, the crowd’s tense expressions began to soften, and looks of relief spread across their faces.

The crowd then dispersed in twos and threes, their steps much lighter than when they had arrived.

Song Qingya quietly watched their backs as they disappeared, her gaze gentle yet tinged with exhaustion.

Only when the last person had turned the corner did she slowly turn and head toward Fei Jin’s office.

It was an old room, hastily cleared out for his use. She lifted the door curtain and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, with only a single oil lamp casting a weak, flickering glow.

Fei Jin sat behind the desk, his posture ramrod straight, but his brow was slightly furrowed with a grave expression.

Yang Kai stood to one side, shifting his feet uneasily.

The moment Song Qingya walked in, a quick glance was all it took for her to sense that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

"What’s going on?"

she asked softly.

Hearing her voice, Fei Jin looked up at her.

The tension in his brow eased slightly.

Under Song Qingya’s gaze, Yang Kai grew even more nervous, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on his temples.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was dry, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Doctor Song, I... I just mentioned something to Mr. Fei."

He said, stealing a glance at Fei Jin.

When Fei Jin didn’t interrupt, he steeled himself and went on.

"I want... I want to ask Mr. Fei to leave some men in the city."

"Even... even just a small squad stationed in the city center would be enough."

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

"Doctor Song, Mr. Fei, I know this might be an improper request. The troops have their own discipline, after all; they can’t be stationed in a local area without orders. But the current situation in the city is far from optimistic."

"Most of my men are new recruits. They’re inexperienced and lack courage. If more refugees pour in, or if something happens outside the city, they won’t be able to handle the risk. I... I’m afraid chaos will break out."

"I’m afraid there will be more casualties, that the homes everyone has worked so hard to rebuild will be destroyed all over again."

"Even just a few men, even if only for appearance’s sake... just having them here would give me some peace of mind. And when the common people see them, they’ll feel they have support and be able to rest easy!"

Song Qingya’s expression flickered slightly as she listened.

She understood Yang Kai’s difficulties, as well as Fei Jin’s dilemma.

On one hand, there was the urgent need for local governance; on the other, the military’s strict deployment protocols. Neither side could easily concede.

Seeing that she remained silent, Yang Kai’s heart sank. He thought she hadn’t understood what he was trying to say.

He wanted to explain further but didn’t know where to begin. He could only look down and wring his hands, his face a mask of anxiety.

"Doctor Song, what do you think...?"

"Impossible."

Song Qingya’s voice was cold and sharp, cutting him off before he could finish.

The expression on Yang Kai’s face froze for an instant.

"Yang Kai, I understand how you feel."

"But leaving troops here is out of the question."

Her calm gaze swept over his anxious face as she continued.

"First, Ajin doesn’t have the authority to decide on a long-term garrison on his own. It’s a breach of discipline."

"If we make an exception today, other places will start asking for the same thing tomorrow. How can the army be deployed? How can they carry out their missions?"

"If someone were to use this against him, it would only cause trouble for Ajin."

"Second, and most importantly."

She paused, lowering her voice.

"The only ones who can truly protect this city and its people are you yourselves."

Her words struck him like a bolt of lightning in the quiet room.

Yang Kai stood frozen, his mind reeling.

"Doctor Song is right!"

He snapped his head up, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

The anxiety on his face faded, replaced by a profound sense of realization and shame.

"I was being short-sighted!"

"Mr. Fei, Doctor Song, don’t get me wrong. I really didn’t have any other intentions!"

He waved his hands frantically, terrified of being seen as having ulterior motives.

"I was just... I was afraid I couldn’t handle it on my own, afraid everyone would have to suffer again."

"You’re right! We have to rely on ourselves! We need to recruit people, build our own force, and defend our own homes!"

He abruptly straightened his spine, determination flaring once more in his eyes.

"I wholeheartedly agree!"

As Yang Kai turned and hurried off to get to work, Song Qingya looked away and sighed softly.

「Night had completely fallen.」

She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her aching wrists.

Fei Jin walked over with a cup of hot tea and handed it to her.

Her once bright, lively eyes were now ringed with faint, dark circles.

Looking at her, Fei Jin felt a dull ache spread through his chest.

’These past few days, she’s barely stopped.’

’She gets up before dawn to check on her patients.’

’At lunchtime, she just bolts down a few bites of food before rushing off to the pharmacy to check the stock and quality of the herbs.’

’And at night, long after everyone else is asleep, she’s still hunched over her desk by lamplight, recording changes to the medicinal formulas and their efficacy.’

’Once things here are settled, I have to take her out for a great meal when we get back. She needs to properly nurse her health.’

’Most importantly, she needs to get some real rest, a long, sound sleep to make up for all the hours she’s lost.’

Song Qingya took small sips of the hot tea, feeling a little warmer.

"Ajin, once things are settled here and we go back..."

She paused, then spoke slowly.

"I want to visit Mom first."

Fei Jin froze for a second, understanding the implication in her tone.

He knew she didn’t just want to see her mother.

She wanted to face the issue she had been deliberately avoiding.

The issue of Song Chenglu—the sister she had grown up with, who was now drifting further and further away.

He gently took the hand resting on her lap and enclosed it in his own.

He didn’t rush to offer comfort, just held her hand firmly, his thumb gently stroking the faint calluses on its back.

’He wanted her to know that no matter what unspoken troubles lay ahead, he would be there to face them with her.’

"Okay."

His voice was quiet but exceptionally gentle.

"I’ll go with you."

「The next day.」

After handing over their duties in the city, the two of them set off for the compound.

The jeep drove into the familiar compound and came to a smooth stop in front of their building.

The red-brick walls were unchanged, and the old pagoda tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the morning breeze, its leaves rustling.

Hearing the car, Liu Li practically jogged out of the building.

"Qingya, Ajin, you’re finally back!"

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she rushed forward, grabbed Song Qingya’s hand, and looked her up and down several times.

"Oh, dear, look how tired you are. You look pale, and you’ve lost weight."

She sighed, her heart aching for her.

"No matter how busy work gets, you can’t neglect your health! You’ve been frail since you were a child. What would you do if you collapsed from exhaustion?"

"Mom, I’m fine."

Song Qingya said with a smile, shaking her head.

Liu Li’s gaze swept around the courtyard.

"Hm? Where’s Cheng Lu? Didn’t she come back with you?"

she asked, puzzled.

’In her mind, the two sisters had left together, so of course they should return together.’

The smile on Song Qingya’s face faded. She answered in a flat tone.

"Mom, Song Chenglu is in some trouble. She violated regulations and has been taken in for investigation."

The color instantly drained from Liu Li’s face, her lips trembling slightly.